Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½
Honor or love?
Ranma:
-XxX-
"Well, Ranma? We're going to be late for class and you haven't uttered one comprehensible sentence!" She snapped, crossing her arms and waiting for Ranma to speak. All he has been saying was 'uh', 'um', 'you see', and others quite like it. She sighed at last and took a seat next to Ukyo, shaking her head sadly. Ranma wasn't going to speak up and she already noticed her patience running thin down to the core. Shrugging, she grabbed her books and headed for the door.
"Wait, sugar," Ukyo called to her, motioning for Akane to take a seat next to her on the bed. "I know what Ranma is trying to tell you." She watched Akane place down her book bag and listen whole-heartily to her new friend. She stole a glance at Ranma who sighed gratefully.
"Then what is it, Ukyo?" Akane urged her. "What is it that you all have to tell me?"
"Ryoga is cheating on you," Ukyo told her. She slowly pronounced the words so it didn't miss a beat. "He's been doing it for two weeks now. Every time you go to school he's secretly been going while you you never knew." Ukyo hated the fact that two hearts were broken today. But, as her new act of friendship, it was important for her to inform Akane. "I just didn't tell you because I was afraid you'd try to steal Ranma back. But, of course, that was then. So I need you to believe me and Ran-chan."
Akane's head bounced from Ranma to Ukyo again and again. She couldn't believe it, this had to be a mistake. Could Ryoga really be...cheating on her? She reminisced yesterday, when Ryoga had left in midday stating he had to look for 'work' but returned later in the middle of the night. Then there was that other time he disappeared. Plus, she had helped him a bit with his directions so he couldn't use 'getting lost' as an excuse. Her heart throbbed violently in her chest, threatening to explode. The facts were all obvious, it was just that she was in denial. "No."
"Listen, Akane," Ukyo told her, attempting a sweeter approach. "It's true. I know that it seems-"
"No!" Akane shouted a little louder. "You're wrong! Ryoga would never- he could never! He always loved me." But she felt the tears slither down her cheeks. Why was she crying if she knew that Ryoga loved her? Why was she? She shouldn't be crying if she knows the truth. Yet, here she was... crying.
"Akane, listen," Ranma stated, rubbing his arm sheepishly. He attempted to smile at her. "You know what they say! Once a pig always a pig!" He joked slightly. "Akane?"
"Ukyo you are just trying to get back at me!" She snapped. She pointed an accusing finger at Ukyo. "Back at me for your loss of Ranma! And you just never liked Ryoga!" Akane yelled at them both. But she chose to ignore the evidence. The constant nights he was gone. Work. Lost. Busy. All of those were his excuses. And she blindly walked head-first into another trap. Someone was laughing at her expense right now. How could Ryoga do this to her? Was everything they had a... lie?
"Akane!" Ukyo yelled, trying to wake Akane up from this daze she was caught up in. She was once in that daze when she had hallucinated Ran-chan's love for her. She had to wake Akane up before she ended up the way she had. Caught in this lie for so long that you can't distinguish reality from day dreams. "We're friends aren't we? Well this is my first act of friendship to you: Ryoga is a no good jackass. Why can't you trust us?"
Ranma suddenly placed his hands on Akane and looked her in the eye. "Akane, have I ever lied to you? Especially if it cost you your happiness? I know what I saw and heard. Ryoga has been cheating on you and it's time to wake up, dammit! Stop trying to live in the 'what ifs' and 'what could have been'. If you do this than you're a lot weaker than I thought you were!" Akane was never the girl that took 'nice' criticism. When you yelled at her, that's when it got through to her most. And the part insulting her pride was just icing on the cake. He knew if he did this much, then he could be able to wake her up to reality.
Akane wiped her tears away quickly. Ranma was right. She was acting like a weak little girl. She was Akane Tendo and she was not going to let Ranma insult her martial arts! She recovered quickly, trying to form a plan that would boil that pig to bits. But then something else dawned on her. "I'm marrying him tomorrow," she said in realization. What was she suppose to do when her wedding was less than 24 hours away? "What am I gonna do?"
"Tomorrow!" Ranma and Ukyo cried out in unison.
"We were planning on eloping," Akane told them bitterly, cracking her knuckles. Both Ranma and Ukyo stepped away slowly as her aura began to emit off of her body. "But I have another plan, and Ukyo you're going to help me."
"Plan? I want in." Ranma told her, eager to give Ryoga the butt-kicking he deserves. He wanted to do this from the get-go but he didn't want Akane to distance herself even more from him. But he was glad that his speech woke her up. Maybe this Akane wasn't as foreign to him as he thought.
"You're going to have to trust me on this," Akane told him, smiling. "When the time comes, you'll know exactly what to do. Just tell the truth. And kick Ryoga's sorry ass today in that duel tonight!" Akane ordered him, patting him on the back firmly.
He nodded and smiled, pulling up his sleeves and flexing his muscles. "I'll show him- oh, damn. I totally forgot about the duel!" He cried out to the girls. How could he honestly forget about the duel? He mentally cursed himself for this.
Both girls laughed. "Well, I just want you to know that Ryoga has improved a lot in his martial arts but I also want you to know that I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines." She smiled at him.
"Thanks, Akane."
"Oh, and Ranma?"
"Yeah?"
"If you ever call me weak again you're going to regret it!" She yelled, drilling her fist to the side of his head. When the boy was out cold, she turned and smiled at Ukyo. "Come on, we've got a lot ofplanning to do."
-XxX-
Ranma stretched on the other side of the room as he glared at Ryoga. He was going to break every bone in his body twice for what he done to Akane. He practiced imaginary punches in midair to purposely showoff to Ryoga. Ryoga saw this. He smirked slightly at him and turned around to drink his water. Why was Ryoga being so cocky? It has only been a month. How much stronger can one person get? Ranma had no reason to worry, he had gotten a little better lately too. So there was no reason for him to be scared. Right? Plus, Akane was here and she was cheering him on. Not that bacon butt over there. He laughed to himself. Bacon butt. But was soon interrupted from the voice of Soun.
"This is a match 'til knockout or tap out. Whoever wins will simply get the satisfaction of being more superior towards the other. Ready?" Both boys nodded slowly, keeping an eye on one another. "Begin!"
Ryoga charged in immediately, trying to headbutt Ranma in the stomach. Too easily, Ranma had dodged that attack. But Ryoga was not done. He came in once more, doing a combo of two punches to the face to blind the opponent, followed by a low kick. He used one of his arms to defend his face and vital points. He tried to read Ryoga's move, seeing that he had to have some sort of strategy. But he had to admit, Ryoga had improved on speed. But his hits were sloppy and unorganized. Or was that what he wanted Ranma to think? Punch, kick, block, kick, punch, block. Ranma read his attacks over in his mind. Ryoga had not improved much!
Now it was Ranma's turn. Ranma, at the speed of light, used his legs to hit Ryoga's pressure points while distracting him with his eyes. Ryoga faltered, jumping back and breathing deeply. Ranma showed no mercy, backing up he was ready to use his Chi attacks. "Kachü Tenshin Amaguriken!" He yelled closing in on Ryoga and aiming for is legs to weaken his posture.
Ryoga had to act to fast if he didn't want to lose right here and now. "Bakusai Tenketsu!" He aimed for the Dojo floor, trying to obscure Ranma's vision with the flying wood shards. It worked, Ranma faltered again and noticed that his shirt was ripped from the attack. Ryoga was breathing deeply and Ranma was sure he could not stand much longer since his aura was slowly weakening.
If he keeps that up, I can't get close to him. Ranma thought of another Chi attack that could keep Ranma from ending up too close to Ryoga. He smiled at Ryoga as the perfect attack dawned on him. "Mökö Takabisha!" He yelled, letting his pride and positive emotions fuel his enormous Chi attack. He aimed for Ryoga and released as it slowly tore Ryoga from the head to toe. He stumbled and slumped on the floor, signaling that the match was over. Ranma grinned, he usually would have held back on Ryoga but ever since what happened, he was determined to show no mercy.
I won! He thought cockily to himself. Suddenly he was overwhelmed by Soun and his pop telling him what a good job he did and how much they don't like Ryoga. He nodded slowly and tried to see Akane through the crowd. She was standing right where she witnessed the duel and their gazes locked for mere seconds before he was attacked from her family. She was smiling broadly at him from the edge of the Dojo. That was better than the feeling of victory. It was much better than acing school, or beating the champion of a martial arts tournament. Maybe it was even better than getting his cure from Jussendo. Why? He didn't know. Maybe it was because...
She had a really cute smile.
-XxX-
A/N: So there is the next chapter to this soon-to-be over story! I think there is only three more chapters left. But I was writing this and I was like... Ryoga and Ranma never had their duel! Plus, who would want Ryoga to beat up Ranma? I DON'T. So of course Ranma won. Not 'cause of me but 'cause he's an awesome martial artist! Some of you might think that Akane took the news too well, but it was because she ISN'T in love with Ryoga and Akane is a strong girl. She can get over it. So next chapter is the wedding. Or review if you don't want it to be the wedding. Tell me what you think.
Stop what it is you're doing and review my story! I love hearing feedback and constructive criticism is always welcome. Just review! :D
Thanks for reading. [If you did.] Hope you all are enjoying your summer!
